Crowflight Restructures $55 Million Debt Facility: Pays Off $42 Million of Debt and Adds $19.4 Million in Cash
28 October 2008 - 11:45PM
Marketwired
CROWFLIGHT MINERALS INC. (Crowflight, the Company) (TSX VENTURE:
CML) is pleased to announce that in conjunction with RMB Resources
Inc. acting as agent for Crowflight's lender, FirstRand Ireland
Plc, Crowflight has restructured the Cdn $55 million debt facility
entered into in February 2008 (see Press Release February 13,
2008).
Both Crowflight and RMB Resources have decided to close out most
of the nickel forward sales contract entered into in July 2008 (see
Press Release July 30, 2008). At that time, Crowflight hedged 20.5
million pounds of nickel at a price of US$8.49 per pound over a
four year period. Details of the debt restructuring are as
follows:
- The following amounts of nickel were closed out recently to
raise net proceeds of Cdn $63 million. A total of 18.2 million
pounds of nickel or 89% of the hedge has been monetized.
------------------------------
Calendar Year Million pounds
------------------------------
2008 0.4
------------------------------
2009 1.6
------------------------------
2010 5.7
------------------------------
2011 5.5
------------------------------
2012 4.9
------------------------------
- The proceeds of Cdn $63 million are being used to repay in its
entirety the Tranche 1 debt facility of Cdn $10.35 million
(including capitalized interest) and a minimum of Cdn $33.2 million
(including capitalized interest) of the Cdn$45 million Tranche 2
debt facility. As of October 27, 2008, Crowflight had only drawn
Cdn $50.2 million of the Cdn $55.0 million debt facility. As part
of the debt restructuring, Crowflight and the Lender have agreed to
cancel the 16.3 million warrants exercisable at Cdn $0.64 per share
associated with the Tranche 1 facility and the 1 million warrants
exercisable at Cdn $0.64 per share associated with the Tranche 2
facility.
- After monetization of the nickel hedge, Crowflight will still
have 2.27 million pounds of nickel hedged at US$8.49 per pound in
2009. In addition Crowflight will put in place a currency hedge
covering the Canadian dollar amount of the nickel hedge in
2009.
- Crowflight's new debt outstanding under the restructured
facility is Cdn $7.6 million, which is repayable to the Lender over
2010, 2011 and 2012 in equal quarterly installments. As a part of
the restructured facility Crowflight will make mandatory quarterly
prepayments to the Lender equal to 40% of after debt service
project cash flow during 2009, falling to 15% thereafter.
- The restructuring will provide Crowflight with Cdn $19.4
million in cash and the restructured facility calls for Cdn$10
million to be applied to the facility proceeds account for
completion of the Bucko Mine and project working capital, Cdn$3
million to the facility debt service reserve and the remainder to
Crowflight for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Under the restructured facility Crowflight has agreed to grant 20
million Crowflight warrants, the Restructuring Warrants, at 125% of
the 20 day VWAP (volume weighted average price) at closing to the
Lender, subject to regulatory approval. Any proceeds from the
warrants will be used to prepay or repay the restructured facility
debt outstanding.
- Crowflight in conjunction with RMB may also implement future
strategic currency and nickel hedges both to protect Crowflight
cash flow and meet Lender requirements.
Commented Mike Hoffman, President and CEO of Crowflight, "During
discussions with our lender during the week of October 14th, we
noticed that the value of our nickel hedge was far in excess of our
market capitalization due to a weakening Canadian dollar and weaker
nickel prices. We realized we had a very unique opportunity to
lower our lender's risk by repaying a large portion of the debt and
dramatically improve our financial situation with the debt
repayment while leaving us with sufficient cash to ramp up the
Bucko Mine to commercial production. It is a testament to our Board
and the flexibility of RMB Resources and FirstRand Ireland plc that
we could execute this opportunity during the window that was
available on a very timely basis. With our existing cash balances
and the additional funds provided by the restructured facility,
Crowflight is in a strong position as we bring on line Canada's
newest primary nickel mine."
Crowflight expects to initiate production of nickel concentrate
at the Bucko Mine by the end of October. Final testing and
commissioning of mill components continues to advance.
Crowflight Minerals - Canada's Next Nickel Producer
Crowflight Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: CML) is a Canadian junior
mining company that is bringing the Bucko Lake Nickel Mine near
Wabowden, Manitoba into production. Full commercial production is
expected to be achieved at Bucko in early 2009. The Company is also
focused on nickel, copper and Platinum Group Mineral (PGM) projects
in the Thompson Nickel Belt and Sudbury Basin.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the
information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such
forward-looking information may be identified by words such as
"plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes",
"may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding
estimated capital and operating costs, expected production
timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange
assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and
future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among
others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining
industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside
the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise
required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the
Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update
publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Total Shares Outstanding: 269.7MM
Fully Diluted: 307.9MM
52-Week Trading Range: C$0.13 - $0.93
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Crowflight Minerals Inc. Mike Hoffman President and
CEO (416) 861-2964 Crowflight Minerals Inc. Heather Colpitts
Manager, Investor and Public Relations (416) 861-5803 Email:
info@crowflight.com Website: www.crowflight.com
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